Fair Work Suspends Rail Union Strikes Until July

After months of repeated rail strikes in Sydney, a ruling from the Fair Work Commission has ordered unions to end stoppages until July 1.

The Fair Work Commission announced the decision on Wednesday night, although didn’t grant the six-month suspension requested by the New South Wales government.

Fair Work president, Adam Hatcher, said both the NSW government and the rail unions had engaged in “mutual public recrimination” throughout the work stoppages, and expressed his hope that the four month intermission would help the groups reach an agreement.

“This gives us the clear air to stop interrupting people’s lives and get on with the business of landing an agreement, [and] fair pay and conditions for rail workers,” Transport minister John Graham told media on Wednesday night.

Graham said the ruling “promises an end to distribution for commuters,” and would allow “cool heads to prevail”.

“We’re now in a position to respectfully get back to work,” he said.

Union “disappointed” but ready for negotiations 

NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union branch secretary, Toby Warnes, said he was “disappointed” with the result, but held similar sentiments that a deal would be made.

“We’re ready to meet tomorrow if the government will meet us,” he said.

“Relations between rail workers, their managers, management and the government are at an all time low, I think it’s really important we have a moment where we all come together.

“Hopefully we can mend that little bit of the bridge that is left.”

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman criticised the Minns government, saying the unions should have been taken to Fair Work much earlier.

“This is a militant set of unions that has been holding commuters to ransom,” he said.

“If a deal is not struck by the 1st of July, that reflects badly on a militant union, a weak government, or both of them.”